2024 Mazda MAZDA3 vs 2024 Nissan Sentra

The 2024 Nissan Sentra received a styling update that enhanced its visual appeal. The grille was widened and integrated seamlessly with the headlights, which now featured black interior bezel elements for a distinctive look. The grille also sported chrome trim around its edges, providing a touch of class. Vertical elements designed to resemble air vents were positioned at the edges of the front fascia, creating an illusion of added width. The Sentra, while maintaining its already decent looks, managed to avoid the quirky designs seen in the Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla, offering a balance of flair that outshone the Honda Civic and Volkswagen Jetta.

For 2024, the trim levels remained the same as the previous year: S, SV, and SR, with a Premium Package available for the SV and SR. The base Sentra S came with 16-inch steel wheels, the Sentra SV boasted 16-inch alloy wheels with a new design, and the Sentra SR stood out with 18-inch wheels and specific styling elements. The SR trim also featured darkened chrome trim and a reshaped lower rear fascia for 2024. One noticeable attribute was the availability of a black roof option for the SR, which could be paired with vibrant colors like Monarch Orange Metallic or Electric Blue Metallic.

Inside, the Sentra’s large round air vents, inspired by the Z sports car, and the plunging dashboard framed the central touchscreen effectively. The SR model showcased red-orange accent stitching on its standard cloth seats, with leather upholstery available on the SV trim along with a moonroof. True to other recent Nissan models, a flat-bottom steering wheel added a sporty touch. While material quality was entry-level appropriate, the design elements provided a unique aesthetic.

Meanwhile, the 2024 Mazda3, last redesigned in 2019, retained a modern and sleek appearance that aligned it more closely with luxury vehicles. Its swooping lines and sculpted bodywork gave it a high-end feel that Mazda intended to emphasize. The front end featured squinting headlights with LED turn signals and stylish round elements that blended into the front fenders. The headlights were set back under the lip of the hood, contributing to the expensive-looking design.

Mazda offered the 3 in both sedan and hatchback versions, with the hatchback being the more visually appealing and practical option. The sedan came in S, S Select Sport, S Preferred, S Carbon Edition, Carbon Turbo, and Turbo Premium Plus trims. The hatchback started with S Select Sport and climbed through S Preferred, S Carbon Edition, the hatchback-exclusive S Premium, Carbon Turbo, and Turbo Premium Plus trims.

The test car, a 2024 Mazda3 Hatchback with Turbo Premium Plus trim, was priced at $38,210, showcasing materials and quality that could rival Audi or BMW. The exterior Snowflake White Pearl Mica paint complemented the interior’s red leather upholstery, which was soft and luxurious. Leather trimmings extended to the top portions of the doors and across the entire dashboard, contrasting the hard plastic components often found in Toyota or Honda rivals. The thin, black leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob added to the premium feel, making the driver’s seat a haven of design and comfort.

The 2024 Nissan Sentra, a nameplate that debuted in 1982, steered away from its performance-oriented past with models like the SE-R, SR Turbo, and NISMO. For 2024, the Sentra was equipped with a single engine choice—a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, paired exclusively with front-wheel drive (FWD). The power was transmitted through a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which had been mandatory since 2020. This year, the CVT was reengineered for improved fuel efficiency and smoother operation, and an engine start-stop system was added to enhance mpg.

While the Sentra didn’t focus on high performance, it provided a pleasant driving experience. The steering was surprisingly responsive, offering good feedback and precision, and the suspension balanced comfort and control well, avoiding the back-and-forth sloshing of passengers around corners. However, an issue with the updated CVT was noted: an unexpected surge of acceleration at around 45 mph. Since this happened in a pre-production vehicle, it might not be present in the cars on dealer lots.

In contrast, the 2024 Mazda MAZDA3 offered two engine options. The standard engine on all "S" trims was a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder, delivering a robust 191 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. The higher Carbon Turbo and Turbo Premium Plus trims received a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard on the lower trims, while all-wheel drive (AWD) was included on the higher trims.

Mazda provided a six-speed manual transmission, but it was exclusive to the Hatchback S Premium with FWD. Other trims featured a six-speed automatic transmission. The Turbo engine, with 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque, was a delight in all driving scenarios. Running on regular fuel reduced the power to 227 hp and 310 lb-ft. The intelligent AWD system managed traction effectively, although the car sat low to the ground, which could be a drawback in snowy conditions. Fuel economy varied across trims and configurations, with FWD, non-turbo sedans achieving 27 mpg city, 37 highway, and 31 combined, and AWD, turbocharged hatchbacks achieving 23/31/26.

The Mazda3 excelled on back roads, managing corners remarkably well despite a torsion beam suspension replacing the older multi-link setup. Steering was tight and precise, and body roll was almost imperceptible. The Mazda3’s stiffer suspension was a trade-off for driving enthusiasts who appreciated its performance.

The 2024 Nissan Sentra offered a reasonable amount of interior space, particularly for front-seat passengers. Front-row headroom was comparable to the Kia Forte and Mazda3 and just behind the Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra. However, the Sentra had less second-row legroom compared to all these rivals. The driver and front passenger benefited from Nissan’s comfortable Zero Gravity seats and excellent forward visibility, thanks to low window sills and a slim dashboard. The rear visibility, although impeded by thick roof pillars, was not as bad as initially expected.

Nissan managed the interior space well, providing ample room between the front seats for cupholders, a phone slot, and a small change slot. While the Sentra lacked all-wheel drive, it compensated with the All-Weather Package on the SV and SR trims, including heated seats, a heated steering wheel, heated mirrors, remote engine start, and dual-zone climate control.

The Sentra’s trunk offered 14.3 cubic feet of space, more than the Mazda3 and Hyundai Elantra, but less than the Kia Forte and Honda Civic. The 60/40 split-folding rear seats helped accommodate longer items.

Conversely, the 2024 Mazda MAZDA3 hatchback, though beautifully designed, was less practical. It offered 20.1 cubic feet of cargo space, less than the Honda Civic Hatchback but competitive with the Subaru Impreza and more than the Toyota Corolla Hatchback. Total cargo space expanded to 47.1 cubic feet with the seats folded down, a similarly average figure.

The rear passenger space suffered due to the cargo space, barely accommodating a six-foot-tall adult and offering tight headroom. The sedan variant provided even less trunk space at 13.2 cubic feet and similarly cramped rear quarters.

A significant drawback of the Mazda3 hatchback was the rear visibility. The beautiful bodywork created a considerable blind spot at the C-pillar, compounded by a small, sloped rear window and the Turbo Premium Plus trim’s rear lip spoiler, resulting in terrible rearward visibility.

In terms of technology, the 2024 Nissan Sentra felt a bit dated. The base Sentra S included a 7-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch instrument cluster display with analog gauges. Standard features encompassed Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though not wireless, Bluetooth, a front USB port, and a four-speaker audio system.

The Sentra SV and SR models upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen and a 7-inch instrument cluster display, along with a six-speaker audio system and SiriusXM satellite radio. These models added a front USB-C port and a charge-only USB-A port. An eight-speaker Bose audio system and Wi-Fi connectivity were options in the Premium Package for the SV and SR.

The graphics of the Sentra’s larger screens looked dated compared to competitors like the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte. Despite lacking modernity, the controls were functional, with large volume and tuning knobs providing ease of use.

Mazda’s technology for the 2024 Mazda3, evaluated extensively by CarGurus, was centered around a rotary controller instead of a touchscreen. Mazda advocated this system as safer since it could be managed by feel, although it took some getting used to.

The standard infotainment display was 8.8 inches on most trims, while the top two trims received a 10.25-inch screen. The larger screen offered touchscreen functionality exclusively for Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, but the placement made it hard to reach. Nevertheless, wireless connectivity for these systems was available on higher trims. Mazda Connect offered Wi-Fi with an AT&T subscription, remote services, navigation, and roadside assistance. Despite Bose stereos having mixed reviews in the past, the one in higher-trim Mazda3s was noted as satisfactory.

The Mazda3’s in-car tech was impressive once acclimated to the rotary controller, which was praised over other non-touchscreen solutions from brands like Acura and Lexus.

The 2024 Nissan Sentra had mixed safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While it received a “Good” rating in the IIHS’ original side-impact crash test, it was rated “Acceptable” in the updated version. The front crash prevention score was “Advanced” for daytime vehicle-to-pedestrian tests but “Basic” at night. Additionally, it got a “Poor” headlight rating.

The NHTSA ratings included five stars in rollover and side crash tests, but frontal crash-test and overall safety scores were not available. Nissan did offer a comprehensive suite of standard driver-assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. Adaptive cruise control was available on the SV and SR but not as standard.

The 2024 Mazda3, in both hatchback and sedan forms, earned five stars from the NHTSA and was named a 2024 Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, indicating stellar performance in crash tests. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality.

The Turbo Premium Plus trim added Cruising and Traffic Support, an evolution of Traffic Jam Assist, offering adaptive cruise and smart steering assistance, albeit not a hands-off system like Ford’s BlueCruise.